The Hindu : A day to remember

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Sep 14, 2003

National

National

A day to remember

By Shonali Muthalaly and Sudhish Kamath

Chennai Sept. 13. It is not every day that the Prime Minister comes calling. It is not every day that dignitaries used to playing chief guest at functions in the city assemble as the audience. It is not every day that a kaleidoscope of worlds — political, cultural, intellectual — collide. But then not everything in the present becomes part of history. And, Saturday was the day.

A stone's throw away from where the hoarding screams `After 125 years of making news, you become the news', MTC buses stop at Kasturi Buildings where excited employees dressed like they are heading for a wedding, cram themselves in for the short ride to the venue — the Madras University's Centenary Auditorium.

Two hours before The Hindu's 125th Anniversary Celebrations begin in the Centenary Auditorium of the Madras University, there is an air of anticipation. Security men tugged around by sniffer dogs hurtle between the rows of chairs marked with fluorescent tags, awaiting a flood of VIPs. ("About 2,000 of the people who are coming are front row types," whispers a harassed looking volunteer, wondering how to seat everyone amicably.)

Nadaswaram music expands over the rapidly filling seats as invitees enter in a sea of Kanjeevarams and gold lined dhotis. Lakshman Kadirgamar, Senior Adviser to the Sri Lankan President, Vyjayanthimala Bali, former MP, Soli Sorabjee, Attorney-General for India, S. Krishnaswamy of Krishnaswamy Associates and K. Srikkanth were among those recognised readily before the function began.

The journalists, seated on one side of the auditorium, squint and nudge one other as they attempt to identify the people walking down the aisle — political leaders and diplomats, representatives from the world of film and music, politicians, lawyers and doctors. And above the droves of celebrities, The Hindu employees cheer on their paper.

Though everyone arrived early in an attempt to avoid the inevitable traffic snarls and security (the instructions were clear — no handbags, briefcases, mobile phones or weapons) there was plenty to do during the wait for the Prime Minister. For example, reading the special edition of `The Mahatma and The Hindu' brought out for the occasion.

The Prime Minister arrived without fanfare escorted by N. Ram, N. Murali, S. Rangarajan and G. Kasturi. The security men running around with metal detectors and huge torches had just bowed out and the flurry was settling, when suddenly the auditorium realised that Mr. Vajpayee was on stage and exploded into a big cheer.

A ten-minute audio-visual presentation on The Hindu (narrated by Girish Karnad) had the 3,000-strong audience riveted to the screens on either side of the stage. The Prime Minister and the dignitaries did not have to strain themselves to catch the visuals, thanks to the state-of-the-art flat screen TV set up in front of the dais.

As they filed out of the auditorium, a number of the invitees had stories to tell about their association with The Hindu as readers. K.M. Mathew, Chief Editor of Malayala Manorama, talked about how he had been reading the paper from his school days. "I read it because it's impartial and objective. I've followed its principles in my paper... in fact I wrote that in the paper today."

Stating that The Hindu was a respected paper in Sri Lanka, Lakshman Kadirgamar said he took pride in attending its 125th year celebrations. T.T. Vasu, industrialist, spoke of his long association with the paper and the family behind it.

It was a "moment to cherish" for the evening's compere, P.C. Ramakrishna, and Sudha Raghunathan who rendered the invocation song, `Maithreem Bhajatha'.

Employees, past and present, who turned up from all over the country, gave a standing ovation to G. Kasturi, Editor of the paper from 1965 to 1991. "I have seen three generations and many changes since I joined in 1940. It's still an important part of my life," says K.R. Srinivasan, who retired as Senior Personnel Executive, after 53 years at The Hindu.

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